[SilverStreak] Walk in cooler hinges would work and be affordable. Take a look.

["Earl Custom" <bigearlscustom@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hello Everyone,
Just a thought on the hinge debate and a solution that could very well handle
the job and last for the lifetime of any of our trailers, would be to use walk
in refrigerator hinges.  They are available in many styles and offsets and are
made to carry doors that are 100+ pounds to say the least.  Kason makes some
fine examples.  Here are a couple of websites I found,
www.coldsupply.com/hinges/index.htm
www.refricentral.com/
www.refrigerationgaskets.com/kasonhinges.html
I'm sure these hinges would work and with the right style, they would blend
right in with our trailers.  A reinforcement plate may be necessary to cover
the old hinge holes, but it could all be done w/ some stainless or aluminum
sheet, a hand shear or kett sheer, a drill and rivet gun.  If I needed hinges,
this is the route I'd go.
All the best
AJ

> From: rcooke@bak.rr.com
> To: sslist@tompatterson.com
> Subject: RE: [SilverStreak] New Stainless Steel  Hinges
> Date: Mon, 26 May 2008 16:20:28 -0700
>
> STAINLESS STEEL HINGES
> I picked up my new Stainless Steel Hinges and my partially repaired
> door on Friday morning 5/23/08.  I spent Friday and Saturday
> completing the repairs and replacing the door seals on the door, and
> installing the hinges, then the door on my 26 foot 1972 Cont. Atlas.
> I had the hinges made up slightly oversize to hide all of the damage
> from four or five hinge replacements over the past 35 years.  Based on
> the hole patterns, the original hinges were much smaller, such as the
> older 1960's style.  I have taken a LOT of pictures and as soon as I
> get time I will download them to my computer and make them available
> to Tom to post, and will send them as email attachments to anyone who
> wants them, just send your email address to me at
> rcooke@bak.rr.com
>
> GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS.	FIRST THE GOOD NEWS!
> The hinges fit and the doors operate perfectly.  I had to use a small
> "drift" to help line up all of the holes for the Pop Rivets.  The Pop
> Rivets are Large Head 3/16" Aluminum with a Steel Shank.  These are
> the strong, large head, rivets we use in Auto Racing and are available
> from "5 Star" in boxes of 500 Rivets.  5 Star is a maker of racing
> body panels and bodies for various classes of circle track race cars.
> I used an Air Operated Rivet Gun to "Set" the rivets, as a small hand
> rivet tool is not really adequate, it can be done, but will be a lot
> of work and very slow.
>
> Because the previous instillation of many sets of hinges left the
> trailer body looking like "Swiss Cheese", I also ran two 1/4" 4" long
> stainless steel bolts through each hinge and the body of the trailer,
> into the, sliding door cabinets next to the hinge side of the door.  I
> used Stainless Steel Lock Nuts and 1/4 inch Stainless Steel fender
> washers to secure the bolts.
>
> I installed the hinges with a layer of "CRL" Aluminum Silicone
> Sealant.  I bought the Silicone Sealant from a small local RV shop.
> "Camping World" does not carry this sealant.  I also used this sealant
> to seal the new Aluminum panel that repaired the damage to the top
> "latch side" of the door.  The use of the sealant sealed all of the
> extra holes in the trailer body and the two doors, as well as
> providing a seal around the Pop Rivets and Bolts that were used to
> mount the hinges to the trailer body and the doors.  I used quite a
> bit more of the sealant that necessary, but I am more interested in
> "Function" than" "cosmetics".  I lubricated the hinges with Silicone
> Spray Lubricant.
>
> NOW FOR THE BAD NEWS!
> PRICE.  My cost was $540 for the set of hinges.  I asked if there
> would be a lower price per hinge set if we order hinges in quantity.
> I was advised that as everything is very precise "Hand Detail" work so
> each set of hinges would cost the same.  Each hinge takes a little
> more than 3 Hrs for a total of 6 hours labor for a set of two hinges.
> The shop rate is $75 per hour, for a labor total of $450.  The special
> Stainless Steel Hinge material, plus the stainless plate and TIG
> welding supplies added another $90 for the total of $540.00  I know
> the material cost is accurate as I chased down the hinge material and
> the stainless plate and my cost was $81.40 including tax, so I was
> only charged $8.60 for the welding supplies.
>
> Only one man at the shop is capable of building the hinges, so "mass
> production is out of the question"
>
> I have been advised that if I prepay for each set of hinges, I can
> have any number of hinge sets made up at the $540.00 price, it will
> just take time, as there is only one man who can make the hinges, and
> it is all detailed and very precise "hand" work.  The guy that built
> the hinges is quite a "Craftsman".  I had been told in the past, by
> several larger fabrication shops, that they could not build the
> hinges.
>
> I was further advised by the shop owner, that he does not want to get
> into the "Hinge" business, and has no interest in building a lot of
> hinges and hoping to sell them.  I was also advised that if they did
> go to that effort, they would have to mark them up at their standard
> 40% mark up, making the end price $756.00 + Taxes of $54.81 for a
> total of $810.81.  As the shop has no interest in searching out
> potential buyers of the hinges, and or advertising, they will only
> build the number of hinge sets that I can prepay for.
>
> I will help anyone who wants a set of hinges get them at a price of
> $550 + shipping, I will check the shipping cost with UPS (they are
> more dependable than USPS for shipping high value items).  My guess is
> the cost, with insurance, will be in the range of $25 to $40,
> depending where in the country they are shipped to.  Because I have to
> be involved, I will add $10.00 to my $540.00 cost for the hinges, to
> cover my gasoline expenses only.
>
> I sure wish there was a cheaper way to get good dependable hinges for
> our Silver Streak's, but I, as well as many others of you, have been
> trying to get a source for hinges for the past two + years, and this
> is the only success I am aware of.
>
> I was able to purchase a set of "New" Silver Streak Hinges that I
> bought on Ebay over a year ago for $450.00 + $25 Freight, which I
> never installed, as I knew they would not last and there would by no
> more "Original Silver Streak Hinges" at any price.  I saved the hinges
> to use as a pattern for new stronger hinges and am now convinced I
> have a "PERMINANT" set of Stainless Steel hinges, they look good and
> should out last the trailer.  As all of us Silver Streak owners are in
> the same "Leaky boat" with respect to finding a solution to the hinge
> problem, I am willing to take a bit of my time to facilitate a
> solution to the problem.
>
> Several of you indicated that you needed more than one set of hinges,
> I suggest you get one set and assure your self that you are truly
> satisfied with the hinge fit and quality before you commit to more
> than one set of two hinges at $550.00 + freight per set.
>
> For anyone on the West Coast, I will be attending the Vintage Trailer
> Rally at Smithwoods RV Park at 4770 Highway 9, Felton CA 95018, Phone
> (831) 335-4321, on May 30 through June 1.  If you can drop by, you can
> see the new Stainless Steel Hinges installed on my Silver Streak.  I
> hope Tom will have a chance to attend the Rally, as his opinion of the
> hinges would carry a lot of weight.  Lets face it if it were not for
> Tom Patterson, we would not have this great resource for our Classic
> trailers, and we would not be able to share information and knowledge
> about our Silver Streak and Streamline trailers, campers, fifth wheels
> and motor homes.
>
> Ralph Cooke
> rcooke@bak.rr.com
>
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